THE GOODNESS OF GOD
THE GOODNESS OF GOD
Sunday, September 2, 2012, The Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Ps. 65:11: “You crown the year (of Jubilee) with your goodness, and your paths drop fatness.”
This past week our church fellowship made an amazing move from our church home of 13-years to what is now our temporary location, 2323 Baker Road, Houston, TX.
During the past two weeks I have experienced amazing goodness from the hands of two gentlemen who prior to that time were total strangers. The first one is Mr. Rod Kelley and his graciousness to open the door to this fabulous white stone home owned by Mr. and Mrs. Flint Brenton.
I spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Brenton this week to firm the signing of the lease and take care of the business arrangements. Their graciousness toward this church fellowship as well as Mr. Kelley’s can only be described as the “goodness of the Lord”. They have welcomed us with open arms and open hearth.
This unprecedented goodness can only come from God Himself moving in his Servants through His Spirit. Goodness is a mysterious term that communicates God’s gracious attributes, His acts, and His character. Jesus asserts that “no one is good but God alone”. And the psalmist writes, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you” (Ps. 16:2).
God is the source of all goodness; “He who does good is of God” ((3 Jn. 11).
God’s called His creation into being and declared it good: “He saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good”. Creation continues to bless the human race. God’s creation, includes people, who are created in his image, are an extension of his own goodness. Paul asserts that ‘everything created by God is good” (1 Tim. 4:4).
When Moses asked the Lord to show him His glory, it was God’s goodness that passed before Moses.
Exodus 33:18-23: “The Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found grace in my sight, and I know you by name. Moses said, Lord I beg you to show me your glory. The Lord said, I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you, and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. The Lord said, you cannot see my face; for there shall no man see me and live. The Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and you shall stand upon a rock. It shall come to pass, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand while I pass by.”
Prior to this visitation, Moses had received many blessings of the Lord’s great presence.
- An angel went before him.
- God spoke to Moses from a burning bush.
- Numerous miracles by Moses
- Deliverance of the nation of Israel from Pharaoh
- Crossed the red sea
- Gave him the 10-commandments
- Built the tabernacle
- Moses enjoyed the Presence of the Lord going before Him as a cloud by day and fire by night.
- The Lord spoke to Moses face to face.
- The Lord spoke to him by name.
33:15: Moses said unto the Lord, if your presence does not go with me, do not carry us hence. Wherein shall it be known here that I and your people have found grace in your sight? Is it not in that you go with us?...the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that you have spoken, for you have found grace in my sight, and I know you by name.
As we broke camp and took this journey this past two weeks, do not doubt that I lay before the Lord and prayed as Moses prayed. Let us not go unless you go before us and we are in your will.
Then Moses asked the Lord to show him His glory. The Lord revealed Himself in:
- All of God’s goodness.
- The Lord would proclaim His name before Moses.
- Graciousness
- Mercy
- Faithfulness
- Righteousness
All these qualities are only part of what it means for God to be good. The goodness of God encompasses all things. Ps. 27:13: “The goodness of God can be seen in the land of the living”.
This house where we have found sanctuary is built like a fortress of solid rock.
“Upon this rock (Jesus), I will build my church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”
Jer.31:12-14: “They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil and for the young of the flock and of the herd; and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. I will satiate the soul of the priests with fitness and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says the Lord.”
Here the goodness of God extends to the good things of this life. Last night at the wedding of Clayton and Katie, we saw an eye-witness of the out-pouring of the goodness of God.
1 Robert and Sandy opened their home and heart.
2 Suzanne baked the wedding cakes.
3 Sonya served Katie by helping her prepare for the wedding.
4 Gris and Lark Steele and Robert were the photographers.
5 Their family and church family came and supported them with their love, goodwill and blessings.
Jeremiah 33:10: “There shall be heard again the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring their offerings to the house of the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever!”
This is indeed is the proverbial good life, with God and people in harmony and people rejoicing in both God and the human blessings that he bestows. The goodness of God is not isolated from life but is the basis for what is good in it.
We are invited “to taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psa. 34:8).
This Psalm was sung to the 400 who gathered with David in the cave of Adullam (1 Sam. 22:1). These were those who came out of the house of Saul and who separated themselves from the old order and its table. These point ahead to those today who are following Jesus that they might reign with him! These mighty men who laid down their lives and reputations in the wilderness of discipline later flowed in the administration of David’s Kingdom.
Many were amazed this week as they watched and participated in the Mighty men and women of Eastgate Ministries. These are the same Mighty men and women of God who in the midst of the storm moved Jubilee 2012 from the tent to the hotel and had it done in 30-hours.
These same giants of faith stood with J. T. and Oksana this week at the passing of His father into glory; moved a church; had a wedding; worked at their jobs; took care of their families; preached the gospel; and visited the jails.
Blessed is the man whom you choose and cause to approach unto you, that he may dwell in your courts; we shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, even your holy temple.
People made in God’s image and restored to that image of redemption are capable of God’s goodness. The good deeds of Hezekia were so noteworthy that they were committed to a written record.
Barnabas was “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24). Godlike character displays the Godlike qualities that the Bible portrays as righteous and good. I believe as we approach the 2012 election cycle that we are able to compare Mitt Romney to Cornelius. Though Cornelius was a Gentile, his righteousness and goodness came up before the Lord as a memorial.
Human goodness is not self-generated. God is the source of all goodness. Those who have the Holy Spirit are enjoined to “do good to all men”. Jesus commanded his followers to “do good to your enemies” (Lk. 6:35).
Since the Jubilee 2012 conference in July, we have surely been lifted up into the whirlwind of the chariot throne of God into His Amazing Grace and Goodness.
As I preach this message, we are experiencing that great goodness inside a beautiful estate. We can look out the windows, see pastures, a lake, cattle, and the goodness of the Lord.
Ps. 65: 11-13: “You crown the year with your goodness; and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks, the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shut for joy, they also sing.”
This morning John Mark Pool sent me a prophet word:
Dear Pastor Carolyn:
Here is a Word the Lord gave me for you today:
The Lord says to you, "You are secure in My Election as you are indeed My Children of Promise having walked into deeper Maturity knowing the price and paying Full Count by faith in My Word! You will lead many who are "nay-sayers" and "spiritual drifters" to come back to their roots in a pasture that has become a Highway of Holiness! Yes, my people are lacking for the fullness of measure of My Vision and you will indeed open the portals of heaven to offer them a new day, a new way that will complete for them a much needed spiritual Growth Cycle! You are now in the Land of Plenty and the Father says to you Pastor Carolyn, 'You are My Daughter in whom I AM well Pleased!' I see the Little White Church becoming God's Big White Church outpouring that will never end! Get ready for the Move of God to be tangibly seen and felt in the new Location, with the Hosts of Heaven encamped round about you to guard the rare blessings of residing now in a continuous Glory Presence Cloud over your new Location!" Amen! Glory be to God!
[Given by John Mark Pool to Pastor Carolyn and the Little White Church in Katy, TX September 1, 2012]
Before closing, I want to address the “nay-sayers” and “spiritual drifters”. Those who are “drifting” are “taking a walk on the wild-side”. They will often use the excuse that their prophecies have not come to pass. Prophecy is the Lord’s word for those who are walking in His will and purpose. If we go-of-course into the permissive will of the Lord, then we walk out of Divine will and our prophetic destiny. The Lord will give all of us our will, but we will miss His. There are times that prophecy is sovereign and will happen regardless of our faithfulness. However, prophecies are often contingent on our choosing His will or ours.
Rev. Marvin Barham called me this week, he said the Lord spoke to him to rename His church. The Lord also spoke to his father and other church members. The new name of the church is “Jubilee”.
Also, my friend, Larry Parker, called me this week to encourage me in the Lord with the Word of the Lord.
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V.; I entered into the labors of Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, General Editors; Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit, Tremper Longman III. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those who I entered into their labors.